Lip Treatments -Badger - Poetic Pomegranate
Lola_B_10021 4/4/2013 2:58:00 PM
I'm actually unsure if I'd repurchase. I own the vanilla and like the application, moisture, staying power and yummy scent so decided to try the pomegranate. I'm also possibly allergic to safflower/sunflower and canola and appreciated the main olive oil component which works great for my skin, hair and diet. The pomegranate has an even better application, moisture-level and more staying power than the vanilla IMO. My lips are in love with the feel and subtle shine, but....the scent. As others have written, it's a choco+orange+herb, I knew I should've put it down because I loathe herbal scents but it was lower on the list than the pomegranate and vanilla! The herbiness overwhelms in the tube but doesn't linger on my lips which is the main factor. I believe I've found a formula upgrade with the pomegranate but the smell *ick* but again it doesn't linger on lips so.....I may try again. Also, the pull-off cap of these Badger balms is a sturdier quality than others (Pacifica) so it's so easy to remove and I love these chubby tubes and having more product! It'd be nice if they discarded the herbal notes and made the pomegranate decipherable, because it's not - at all!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Pacifica - Color Quench Lip Tint
Lola_B_10021 4/4/2013 2:28:00 PM
I'm very suprised at the rave reviews, this product didn't perform for me at all. I received a free sample of the Blood Orange with an order in January. I hoped for long-lasting moisture and a subtle stain. The color is a shimmery wine with pink, brown and orange tones. I have a cocoa top lip and cotton candy bottom and typically encounter uneven staining with tints so I avoid them or blend well and add a different color. The PROS are: easy to handle chubby plastic tube, handy push-up dial to control waste, lots of product packed in, nice label, the shimmer is muted, on light pink lips the color is a pretty berry wash, came in a larger decorated tube that I use for change! The CONS are: the cap is the usual nail-splitter and difficult to remove with wet/oily hands, the fragrance smells waxy, it has minimal blood orange notes and lacks the sweetness of the perfume, it also has a strong rosemary undertone, the formula goes on dry, it provided very little moisture and caused my lips to dry and crack, the scent lingered, dry lips + staining + shimmer = *sigh*, moderately difficult to remove, uneven 80s wine color on brown-hued lips. I would not buy this product and would avoid if you have darker lips and are looking for a tint/wash/stain. I used the product without primer or any other color. The tint issues were negligible for me, I seriously didn't like the hydration factor and the dry application and the settling it did on the chapped lips I felt it caused. I didn't pay but at $7 there are SO many other options, the packaging is ok, save for the cap. HTH!
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - BoBeamProducts Shealoe Shampoo Bar
Lola_B_10021 12/5/2012 6:14:00 AM
This is by far the gentlest and most moisturizing shampoo bar I have ever used. I ran across this brand on CurlMart. My hair has good slip and doesn't tangle so I nix conditioners and opt for pH-balanced shampoos to tackle build-up without stripping my hair and scalp. I found bars a bit too drying in the past and didn't love following up with an acidic conditioning rinse. However reviews of BoBeam bars on CurlMart, Etsy and YT praising the cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning properties of the entire line convinced me to buy. The Shealoe bar was the one most drooled over by reviewers (and one of the few left in stock),I received the 3.85oz bar + 2oz salted-caramel scented shampoo bar sample and sweet holiday card, within 5 days of ordering (awesomeness!). The bars came in reusable, clear plastic containers and the shealoe was formulated with 2-tiers: a creamy white solid half and a translucent yellow, lemon-scented half. I don't love lemon but it was light and didn't linger during and post-wash. I sliced a piece of the bar but the halves of the sliced piece separated, so I'd suggest either lathering your hands with the entire bar and working the suds through your hair or using the bar directly on your hair/scalp, the bar keeps intact. Anyway, this bar produced some of the thickest, foamiest, silkiest old-fashioned suds I'd seen in a long time and my hair and scalp felt dreamy. All it took was a few passes with the bar and tons of lather later and my hair and scalp were perfectly clean. Post-wash my impressions were positive; I didn't follow with a conditioner, yet my scalp wasn't stripped (nor revolutionized, just fine) and my hair maintained close to my usual soft, slippery, springy, spongy texture. Not at all parched or stripped but with more of that 'clean' feeling than I prefer or perhaps am used to. Maybe the results would've been perfect had I followed with a conditioner but I'm happy with what I got. Drying and styling my hair produced my usual good result. I still prefer pH-balanced formulas and to maintain pH-balanced hair in general, but this bar was comparable to be sure. And since the bar and sample will last a LONG time, I can remain undecided on a re-purchase while using it as needed. The bars are advertised as hair and body bars and the ingredients list includes shea, tea tree and lemon oil and aloe vera as well as glycerine and soybean protein, all of which seemed to have worked happily with my hair. I paid $5.00 plus $2.00 shipping for my entire order which was fantastic, great CS all around! If you're looking for a moisturizing and conditioning natural shampoo that doesn't leave residue, or require 'tweaking', or make your hair and scalp feel and sound bristly, then I'd recommend giving these shampoo bars a shot. Please note: these bars contain vegetable glycerin, it has been known to wreak havoc with my hair which may impact my choice to re-purchase but for now I'm okay.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Original Moxie Lux Locks Styling & Shine
Lola_B_10021 12/5/2012 12:59:00 AM
My hair is curly, thick, never tangles, is untreated but has been dry of late. I purchased a sample size of OM's Lux Locks as part of their choose 4 for $15 sample quad set. This is a natural brand that runs pricey so this is a great deal with a lot of options and the cutest jars on earth! The samples have hammered tin(ish) tops, the product is easy to remove and the labeling is bright and pretty. Also the CS is phenom! I was looking for a leave-in to seal moisture AND sustain my hair's natural softness for longer periods. This product has a very high concentration of vegetable glycerin, which I usually avoid because overuse in the past contributed to some breakage. I'm in a humid area and wanted to see if I should try humectants again. I used this on freshly-washed and also 'dirty' hair. PROS: Creamy, whipped texture, very easy to spread Post-wash/rinse gave amazingly buttery-soft curls Great shine, non-greasy, non-oily, no product residue to the touch at all! Wow moisture! Kept my hair VERY moisturized hours longer than other brands Worked well as a leave-in/styler/sealer A quick water spritz re-invigorated the super-softness each morning No scalp or strand build-up, didn't 'sit' on my hair Ingredients didn't irritate my skin A little goes a long way CON: -Smelled like Noxzema (1980s version), didn't linger past 1 night, but ugh! -The .5oz sample is $5, the 6oz reg. is $18, the 12oz is $34 -The areas where my hair has the tiniest curls, which are always tangle-free and soft, became an impossibly tangled nightmare! I'm guessing all the water being attracted by the glycerin caused a curl frenzy! They looked and felt soft initially, but as I began to finger-comb I realized how mushy, stringy, rough and horribly, hopelessly intertwined my hair was. I wanted to like this product and used it about 4 or 5 times but the insane tangles were enough to call it quits. The smell is terribly medicated but I initially liked the positives enough to overlook it, the mushy, spiderwebby tangles however was something I'd never like to revisit. Humectants work for some but are on my banned list again. I like other products from this line but Lux Locks is not for me.
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Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Oyin Shine and Define gentle styling serum
Lola_B_10021 11/28/2012 2:07:00 AM
This smells great! Luscious citrus and some sweet fruit fragrance I can't put my finger on, though it doesn't linger. It has a custard texture, is a translucent white shade and comes in a durable and good looking plastic tub with screw top lid. I purchased a sample size and this serum is supposed to define curls and add shine, neither of which I need but I love samples! I won't re-purchase despite the yummy smell because I don't love custard textures, the defining properties were the same as any other product on the market and mainly because it left my hair looking surprisingly dull and feeling a bit coated. My hair felt soft, just a bit dry (not crunchy) and as if a powdery yet gummy film was on it - weird I know. Anyway, it's not for my hair but it makes a nice hand cream!
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Styling Products -Shea Moisture - Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk
Lola_B_10021 11/20/2012 5:24:00 AM
I have fine-med-coarse strands, tight-loose curls and high-low porosity areas. I got curious, researched and purchased an 8oz bottle of the Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Conditioning Milk (whew!) from Target for $9.99. I must've blacked out or something though, because I avoid products that prominently feature silk protein. For reference, Shea Moisture sells 3 hair milk products (re: lotion/styler): the Hibiscus line (rose label), the Yucca & Baobab line (olive) and the Raw Shea line (goldenrod). The Hibiscus curl milk includes silk protein, the Yucca has silk protein and glycerin and the Raw Shea line has glycerin. This is a big deal among some curlies as added protein has been reported to strengthen hair and sometimes over strengthen to point of breakage, and added glycerin has been reported to moisturize (possibly exacerbating frizz/volume) and sometimes over-moisturize or dehydrate hair in certain climates. I've had breakage with silk protein and glycerin, both of which are generally totally unnecessary for me to use and I'm sure both results were my fault. Anyway, I didn't need a styler or detangler but was experiencing some end-shaft breakage and dryness and thought, 'why not?'. The ingredient list varies on different websites so I thought this product had protein AND glycerin as non-key ingredients; therefore a fortifier plus a humectant to add moisture. But it only has silk protein and high up in the list, if overused it could over-fortify my hair and end up blocking moisture. I used this product maybe 4 times, very liberally on wet and dry hair prior to styling, over a period of 2 weeks. I noticed that the breakage at my ends did stop, pretty cool! Though I couldn't imagine using this more than 1x every few weeks max (unless your hair defied protein), therefore I didn't mind the cost per use. But it slightly flaked after drying (maybe overload?) and also left my hair a bit dry and crunchy. I would try the other 2 lines but I'm aware of Sundial's organic claims being contested and Shea Moisture having NO samples and NO working website and I just don't want more hair stuff. On my skin it left that 'silicone-like' smoothness with no real moisture or emollience. It does SMELL very lovely though, and I don't even like coconut scents, but fragrophobes and the allergy-prone beware. The BOTTLE is sturdy, great press lid and so far super secure and a nice portable size. The FORMULA is a bit thick requiring quite a bit of shaking to get out but the texture is smooth and lotion-like. I would buy again if in need of a protein intervention as it's easy to find but as a regular leave-in and moisturizer - no! This product is so similar to many others out there, but many people swear by this stuff.
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Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Original Moxie Hair Bling High Shine Pomade
Lola_B_10021 11/17/2012 10:28:00 PM
I would buy this again! I bought a small 3oz. jar from the OM website for $16. I use it as a leave-in conditioner to lock in moisture and style post-wash/rinse. I think it feels great and like the results as much as Darcy's Botanicals Cupuacu pomade, though Bling is a lighter-weight, tack-free, easier to spread option. Super soft, pliable, very easy to apply and spread Non-greasy, Non-tacky Leaves hair soft, shiny and bouncy Nice hold, easy styling Like the orange bergamot scent Non-comedogenic, non-irritating Online CS was good A little goes a LONG way Cute, durable, compact jar CONS: HATE the strong clary sage smell! I don't use at night 3oz for $16 - enough said! Wish it had a textured lid like sample jar for slippery hands No better at long-lasting moisture than other products
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Lola_B_10021 11/17/2012 9:49:00 PM
I use it for: Face oil cleanser Face oil moisturizer with/without niacinamide Face oil steam treatment Face and eye MU remover Face primer Body moisturizer, post-shower Body scrub, with sugar-lime-salt or loofah Hair conditioner and moisture-sealer, post-wash/rinse Mittens and tootsy treatment PROS (so far no CONS): Non-comedogenic on scalp/face/body Thin/med texture Super-fatted Multi-use and a good back-up for other HGs Affordable and easy to find/store
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Kinky Curly - Knot Today leave-in conditioner
Lola_B_10021 11/17/2012 8:54:00 PM
My 3rd purchase from WF at $13, the results were..... As far as imparting moisture, slip and softness, it didn't work on me. It's full of slip ingredients but somehow doesn't seem to distribute it, even so I have sufficient natural slip, my hair is soft and I'm not prone to tangles. I tried it as a leave-in and rinse-out. But both made my hair feel...'starchy', or less slippery after rinsing out or after using as a leave-in on damp or dry hair. By starchy I mean not exactly rough but not as soft/smooth as without this product. Only on drenched hair is the product VERY slippery on me. I tried the 'Kimmaytube' recipe, adding oils and aloe etc., but it was the same result and tedious to make and preserve. I haven't found a condish I love (though blue malva herb is nice) so I use a pomade or butter to seal water into my hair. I WOULDN'T BUY AGAIN but do however LOVE the packaging! Slim, lightweight, easy press-top lid and pretty design. And think it's a great amount for the price because you can dilute this to no end and get the same effect as the concentrate. I diluted 50-90% and was amazed that it worked the same.
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Shampoo -Alaffia - BEAUTIFUL CURLS Shea Butter Curl Activating Shampoo
Lola_B_10021 11/17/2012 8:22:00 PM
Purchased from WF on sale at $9. I would NOT recommend. PROS: Packed with water, slip and oils; Hair feels soft during/after use; Hair is clean; Not stripping/harsh; Silky and thick texture; 12oz. a lot of product for a 'natural' brand; High lather; Flip-top lid and contoured plastic bottle are very sturdy, easy to maneuver. The flip-top has a shallow lip and is not as nail-friendly as some others but holds the product in well. CONS: It leaves a LOT of residue on my scalp, with a fingernail test there's a ton of crud I pick up identical to shea butter and I have to scrub/re-cleanse or clarify on top of my initial 'shampoo' to remove it, thereby stripping my strands. I have a lot left unfortunately, it was an impulse buy, never again. I'll probably create a moisturizing scrub with it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Unlisted Brand - Darcy's Botanicals Coconut Cupuacu Butter Natural Hair Pomade
Lola_B_10021 7/15/2012 6:11:00 PM
I really like this natural pomade and use it to seal in moisture on freshly washed/misted hair and as a conditioner/styler on wet/dry hair. Happy with Darcy's customer service, will buy again! PRO: Longer-lasting moisture and post-wash softness. Easy to apply, spreads, softens, blends well. Great for long-lasting curl definition. Non-greasy and non-comedogenic on me. Easy styling: ponies, twists, braids, knots, buns. The coconut oil has been friendly to my hair and skin. Butterscotch fragrance is mild and doesn't linger. Tacky feeling doesn't last on my hair. Container is compact and product lasts a while CON: Thick consistency, opaque color. Tacky to the touch and can build up quickly and feel waxy. Pricey, $12 for 4oz jar Contains fragrance. UPDATE 1/13/2013 Newest purchase doesn't have that tacky feeling, and less thick, lighter texture!
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Lola_B_10021 7/15/2012 4:28:00 PM
In response to another review, I've never heard of an oil being a humectant as they are hydrophobic and resist moisture, but oils can be emollients and in soapmaking emollients can produce glycerine during saponification. I have Tropic Isle Living's Jamaican Black Castor Oil which is billed as 100% castor oil, no additives. According to the site, castor seeds are roasted and hand processed to produce light to dark brown oil for extraction. People report it as useful for detoxing, scalp/hair ailments and maintenance, hair growth, massage, skin conditions and first aid among other things. I like the thick consistency and like it as a face cleanser, an occasional shower oil. I don't use this to seal or style my hair. Castor oil or 1:1 castor oil:olive oil mixes result in shedding and breakage for me. This could be a temporary reaction but I like the sealing and styling power of other products with castor oil high on the ingredients list that don't result in this problem better. It smells nutty or like fish oil to me but tolerable. It's an amber color, very thick with high tack but spreads okay with water and comes in a sturdy amber-colored glass bottle with screw top cap. I paid about $8 for a 4oz bottle from Amazon. I may buy again but I don't reach for this. EDIT: would NOT buy again, makes my scalp itch when used alone though nice on my strands however it's just unnecessary, I can use any oil. Nice on my face post-wash.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - AyurNatural Beauty Hibiscus Petal Powder
Lola_B_10021 6/30/2012 7:36:00 AM
I purchased the hibiscus (jaswand) powder along with their shikakai to formulate a 3:3:2 amla:shikakai:hibiscus hair cleansing and conditioning paste. I wanted more gloss, curl enhancement, and overall hair strengthening and the price was good at $5 for 4oz. Their variety is Egyptian, a beautiful rich and vibrant fuchsia and smells like tart rose petals. The packaging was re-closeable and air tight, very attractive. Hibiscus is reputed to: promote hair growth, smooth the cuticle, stop hairfall, impart shine, bounce, delay graying and give burgundy/cherry color hair color and quicken henna dye release. PRO: A very nicely milled, fine powder texture, the photo on the website looks more crushed. I got the cherry cola/burgundy tones which I didn't love but they did look nice and only very visible in direct light. The powder blended well, went on wet or dry hair great (I suggest wet though it's messy) and was very acidic 3.5pH so it gave me the bounce and shine I was looking for but was a it too drying on my already dry hair though it may work for others. I began using it on my face and it acted as an acidic face mask tightening my skin and giving it glow and clearing up some recent acne. As a body cleanser/ masque/exfoliant it's great as well. CON: 1 lippie due to powder not being as finely milled as Henna Sooq's. There are tiny granules that I didn't see at first which I found a bit annoying to rinse out of my small curls. I LOVED everything else. The granules are tiny but appeared like translucent sand grains in my hair and my drain already doesn't love powders so that aspect was unfortunate aspect. I would reconsider if the milling was perfected as it just seemed really fresh and pleasant to work with.
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Hair Styling Tools -Unlisted Brand - Hercules Sagemann HS1607 Tapered Cutting Comb
Lola_B_10021 6/23/2012 5:19:00 AM
SPECS/CLAIMS: Cutting and barber comb 100% Vulcanized Natural Rubber Seam-/burr-free Hand-sawn, hand-cut and hand-polished Rounded tips and sides Twist-resistant, yet flexible Ergonomic design Non-porous, mold/mildew resistant Chemical and heat resistant Antistatic (prevents fly-away hair) Medium and fine teeth Tapered design & flexible back 7.5"/0.3mm cut PROS: Per my use, all of the above is true. I purchased this comb last June from Hotcombs.net for $9.50 before discount, for use as a styler, not cut/taper comb. The teeth were the perfect width and diameter to create comb coils (Shirley Temple curls made by continuously twisting a comb through the length of your hair, it's on YT) and I wanted a seamless comb. The comb is flexible, smooth all over, glided through my hair, didn't stress my hands considering the style requires an awkward and repetitive wrist motion, was static-free, didn't snag or catch, was gentle on my fine strands, easily maneuvered my high-volume small coils, seemed to work well with water and oil and flawlessly created the effect I wanted. CONS: Used 5 times, and mind you NEVER even attempted more than 8 individual comb coils each of those 5 times (it's a LONG process), and the comb died. It didn't die during use, it stayed in my bathroom and was rarely touched but it 'dried out' becoming stiff, brittle and losing its finish. I picked it up one day and touched the finer teeth and 3 easily broke off. Over the course of a few months more of the fine teeth broke off like twigs. I think I could easily crack it in half. I've never used it with chems or heat or to cut and don't know if it hates certain oils, needs careful drying after use with water or if the humidity in my bathroom was a factor, but I was disappointed because my Magic Star Mini Rake from the same mfr./supplier is still brilliant after a year of use and sits right next to it. The distributor website, payment, packaging and shipping are good but this is the 2nd product from Hercules Sagemann that gets a thumbs down from me. I'd be happy to amend my reviews if someone could identify the cause of death as something I did, or didn't do : )
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
Lola_B_10021 6/13/2012 12:29:00 AM
I've purchased Nature's Way and Living Foods brands at WF 16oz at $8-10 PROS: Oil pulling - I've read amazing things about EVCO's ability to draw out bacteria esp. for oil pulling (mouth rinsing) and so far really like the results and the slight coconutty after-fragrance. Body oil - incredibly penetrative post-shower body oil leaves my skin glowing and soft with no outbreak/irritation. I use it from neck to heel. Exfoliant - Mix with sugar or meal for a great exfoliator that leaves skin soft. Packaging - Is fine considering this solidifies at a certain temp. CONS: Hair - makes my hair feel dry and brittle and just sits Scalp - makes my scalp itch and clogs my pores Face - clogs my pores, makes my face feel dehydrated Will buy again for the pros!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No